Cisco Buys Cloud Security Shop

Cisco makes an $183 million all-cash bid for closely held ScanSafe.

NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Cisco ( CSCO) sticks to the acquisition path with a $183 million all-cash purchase of closely held ScanSafe, its third deal in the past month.

ScanSafe makes network-based security software for businesses looking to manage data connections between offices and workers. The company, based in San Francisco and London, was founded in 1999 by two investment banking brothers, Eldar and Roy Tuvey.

ScanSafe has 150 employees and includes Google ( GOOG), AT&T ( T) and Sprint ( S) among its customers. ScanSafe is among a roster of companies that make so-called software-as-a-service products that provide service from the network or cloud instead of applications installed on computers.